How to restructure the EU banking sector?
High-level conference
PRESENTATION
Should we split our banking activities? Separate retail from investment banks, too often indulging in the « casino economy »? This debate is already well underway in the US, where the famous « Volcker rule » – that bans proprietary trading by banks backed by taxpayers – is currently being implemented. Similarly, in the UK, the Vickers report (Independent Commission on Banking) introduces the idea of « ringfencing », forcing the banks to completely isolate the activities vital to the economy and benefiting from public guarantees from the ones that don’t. What is the approach at EU level? At this stage, Commissioner Barnier has mandated a working group – chaired by Erkki Liikanen – to explore this issue and make some fresh proposals. This working group should submit its conclusions after the summer 2012. It's high time to bring these issues to the public debate!
PROGRAMME
Listening room JAN 4Q1
First panel: Keynote speeches (9h30 - 13h)
Chairman: MEP Philippe LAMBERTS, member of the Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA group) 9h30: Opening and welcome address by MEP Philippe LAMBERTS 9h35: Introductory remarks by MEP Sharon BOWLES, chair of the Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament 9h45 - 10h15: Paul VOLCKER, Advisor to President Barack Obama and former Director of the US Federal Reserve 10h15 - 10h45: Sir John VICKERS, Economist (Oxford University) and Chair of the UK Independent Commission on Banking 10h45 - 11h: Michel BARNIER, Commissioner for Internal Market and ServicesCoffee break (11h - 11h30)
Second panel: Debate (11h30 - 13h)
Chairman: MEP Sven GIEGOLD, coordinator for the Greens/EFA on the Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament 11h30- 12h: Reactions from civil society, academics and the financial industry- Jean-Pierre JOUYET, Chairman of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF)
- Thierry PHILIPPONNAT, Secretary General, Finance Watch
- Eric De KEULENEER, Professor at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics
- Karl-Peter SCHACKMANN-FALLIS, Executive Member of the Board of the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV)
- Alejandra KINDELAN, Associate Managing Director and Global Head of Research and Public Policy, Banco Santander
- James L CHEW, Global Head of Regulatory Policy, HSBC Holdings
Listening room JAN 4Q1